Ruby's Reward — page 315: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

“Well, not exactly ; you are simply a boarder.” “In other words, you have bribed the man to keep me here to suit your purposes, But Edmund Carpen- ter,” Ruby continued, taking a step toward him and hitting herright hand to emphasize her words, “your fried may keep ine here as long as you see tit to pay him forit; [I will brave it out to the bitter end; but I forbid you to enter my presence again; I will not see you—I will have nothing whatever to— say to you.” “But you cannot help yourself, Ruby, my beauty,” he retorted, with a smile and with glowing eyes. She never looked so attractive to him as when she was flushed and excited with anger, “T can Lelp myself, [will help myself!” she replied, sharply, and, turning abruptly from him, she walked into her bedroom, where she shut and locked the door, the key, fortunately, being in the lock. Mr. Carpenter looked somewhat astonished at this decisive movement, and resolved to give orders to the servant who was to wait upon Ruby to secure that key the next time she caine up. But nothing could be gained from his spirited cap- tive in her present state of mind, and he left the field very mnuch disturbed over his ignominious failure to bring her to terms. Ruby heard him depart with a feeling of intense relief, and then began to look about her to see in what way she could defend herself from his future visits. “T will not be subjected to such interviews as this,” she said, resolutely, ‘‘and if I will not see him, be will begin to understand thathe cannot make me surren ler,” Suddenly her face lighted, and going to her trunk, she took from it a large spoolot wire which she some- times used in making artificial flowers, Armed with this, she went back to her chamber, and began to wind the wire around the knob of the door, which was locked on the outside, and which she supposed led into the hall, carrying itup through a bracket to. the mantel that was near, massing ib back and forth again and again, drawit punicbo Oks con